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View Full Version : Would anyone here recommend a Home Gym?



Pool_Shark
09-07-2007, 10:45 PM
A friend of mine has started working out a lot more in the past year and he's got a good sum of cash to spend. However, with him and I constantly going (about 10 minutes driving there back and fourth) to the nearest gym (which is on a military base, and a really great spot to exercise as far as variety goes) he is considering buying a home gym for himself to avoid the tedious drive every other night. Often him and I will go there and shoot some hoops or play hockey or something to get a bit of a warm-up and then after that we generally follow our workout routines then head out to subway or home (we do try and watch a bit of what we eat!:D) Generally we spend about three hours at the gym, with some nights being more depending on whether or not we go with a bigger group of friends or if we go swimming or rent the hockey rink in the winter.

From back when I used to live with my parents I have two older treadmills and an elliptical in my basement and I also own a Bowflex located upstairs. My friend is really interested in going forward with buying a bowflex after having used mine, but I've encouraged him to invest more into a regular bench/bar and free weights. He has a set of dumbells and a curling bar with a decent variety of weights accessible at his house or at least I'm certain he could purchase weights and these things I suggested. I'm not a huge fan of universal gyms, though the Bowflex home gym isn't a terrible thing to use in front of the television or something like that, and it's all easy to set-up and go after work usually.

So do any of you fitness buffs work out from home? If so do you have any specific suggestions for things to have in your own home gym - any good deals or people looking to sell sets? :p I'm sure other people that don't live immediately near a gym or have one on the way back and fourth from work might have a home gym.

I think he is really looking to be able to work out a variety of muscle groups as well, though with our cardio and nutrition program he's really cut back a lot of his weight (He dropped from 195 to 165 this year and he has some good muscle building on him) We've been best friends for at least five years now and working out together and eating healthier for the past year or so has become routine for us. He's really gained a lot more confidence in himself, even at parties he never used to go and make conversation with people. He's definitely a lot more social and confident. So I'm thinking that since I don't know too much about home gyms outside of the one I have set up and I will probably go solo and hit the military base gym still in my free time, what could my friend look into so he can continue to work out and yet remain flexible with his muscle groups and he might want a good variety of weights as I think he's still looking to bulk up and continue to increase his muscle mass this year.

Anyhow, just thought I would try and ask here before anywhere else since this forum is relatively new and could use the topics - I'm gonna head out to the gym now so hopefully there will be some suggestions for when I get home :D Thanks in advance for anyone that posts, and I can provide some other information about his workout plans and routine and most of his eating habits (what he eats at work is beyond me!) - if you need that additional information to get a better idea of what he will probably need.

Rob
09-08-2007, 02:04 AM
I know that Daniel isn't a big fan of home gyms, since he prefers using freeweights and other varied exercises, but I will say that if you're looking at getting any home gym, the new BoxFlex models are probably the best.

They have many new attachments and exercises, and switching from exercise to exercise is very easy now, so you can get a wide variety in your workout.

I have worked out extensively with stations (series of machines) in actual gyms, and I've also used dumbbells, barbells and freeweights, and I can say that I've noticed a far greater change from working out on my BowFlex - the one I have is a few years old - than from anything else.

BowFlex machines used to lack leg exercises, but that has vastly improved now, so I would personally recommend the machine over any other home gym.

Pool_Shark
09-08-2007, 03:02 PM
I know that Daniel isn't a big fan of home gyms, since he prefers using freeweights and other varied exercises, but I will say that if you're looking at getting any home gym, the new BoxFlex models are probably the best.

They have many new attachments and exercises, and switching from exercise to exercise is very easy now, so you can get a wide variety in your workout.

I have worked out extensively with stations (series of machines) in actual gyms, and I've also used dumbbells, barbells and freeweights, and I can say that I've noticed a far greater change from working out on my BowFlex - the one I have is a few years old - than from anything else.

BowFlex machines used to lack leg exercises, but that has vastly improved now, so I would personally recommend the machine over any other home gym.

Much like Kross, I'm more into the free weights but it's good to hear an outside opinion on this type of thing. One of my complaints about my Bowflex (seeing as how it's one of their first models) is that every time you want to change your muscle group you're adjusting the rods and seats or placing a new bar somewhere. It was really just as much of an effort was if you were using free weights - but it's slightly more compact then having to worry about several different sets of weights scattered about the gym.

Thanks for the quick reply, I'll be sure to tell him to look into the newer Bowflex models if he is going to go through with this Bowflex purchase.

Daniel Regan
09-08-2007, 08:08 PM
Honestly my position isn't going to change. To get the most out of your workout all you need is a few things: an olympic barbell, a bench, and a power rack. That right there could be better than nearly any gym, or home gym that money can by. A dip/pullup station would be great too, but they're not a necessity. Honestly, I am not someone to promote the use of a machine that is stuck in fix positions and has you doing less effective exercises. However, if it's that choice or nothing - then I of course support that.

Or you could do what I've been doing, and convert a good portion of your workout over to strongman style training. However, if you live in the city that's pretty much a no-go.

Pool_Shark
09-08-2007, 09:37 PM
Honestly my position isn't going to change. To get the most out of your workout all you need is a few things: an olympic barbell, a bench, and a power rack. That right there could be better than nearly any gym, or home gym that money can by. A dip/pullup station would be great too, but they're not a necessity. Honestly, I am not someone to promote the use of a machine that is stuck in fix positions and has you doing less effective exercises. However, if it's that choice or nothing - then I of course support that.

Or you could do what I've been doing, and convert a good portion of your workout over to strongman style training. However, if you live in the city that's pretty much a no-go.

Well, I live close to farmland :rolleyes: My friend is quite particular about getting a universal gym as opposed to basically what you just recommended (and what I also prefer to use) but since he's quite sure on the whole Bowflex thing I think I'll let him blow his money on whatever he wants - then he can complain about it later :D I just thought it might be a good thing to check around with other people whom have more experience probably not only with working out but also with purchasing and pricing this type of thing. Another funny thing is that we used to do that whole strong-man type workout back in junior A hockey camp. You do need a lot of space though - we used to push the trainer's car around the Scotia bank Place's parking lot in Ottawa. That was a good workout for the legs!

Edit:

Hey Kross - how about some UFC 75 predictions @ WCR?

Daniel Regan
09-08-2007, 11:38 PM
I'm staying away from any site that can possibly put out predictions early. Let me just go on record and say Henderson in the 4th.